Either works.

Last year I printed the instructions and had each kid build their own
model.  With 10 kids, that worked out perfectly.
Building the models ate up the first week (2 practice sessions @ 2 hours)
though.

We were doing FLL at a school, so we had to set up the field before each
practice session, then tear down after.

We kept each model (and the printout with the instructions) in its own 6qt
storage box ($1 from Home Depot).  Throughout the season each kid was
responsible for their own model, setting it up on the field before
practice, then putting it away after.

This year I have 3 teams, and the teams meet once a week, so I'm going to
have a build party before school starts to put everything together.  With
only 10 weeks from school start until the qualifiers, I want the kids to
spend their team practice time on the project and on the robot game, not on
assembling models.

Also last year, I printed out the rules and a full-page picture of the play
field and gave each kid a copy.  My thinking was that the kids would take
them home, read it, and think about strategies for solving the robot game.
 The didn't.  Instead the kids did all their work during team practice,
which makes me all the more mindful about the team using their practice
time wisely.


On Thu, Aug 14, 2014 at 9:13 AM, Penny Moss <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> As a rookie coach, I have a silly question. Do most people print out the
> building instructions or do you work off looking directly at the computer.
> Printing would be hundreds of pages!!!
>
> -Penny
>
> On Jul 31, 2014, at 10:39 PM, VA-DC Referee Advisor <[log in to unmask]>
> wrote:
>
> FLL Coaches and Teams,
>   The World Class mission model build instructions will be posted
> tomorrow, Friday, August 1, at 12 noon Virginia-DC time.  They will be on
> the web at
> http://www.firstlegoleague.org/challenge/missionmodelbuildinginstructions
>
>   Even if you don't have your field kit yet, you can still take a look at
> the model pictures and guess what your robot's tasks might be.  We won't
> know for sure until August 26th, so let your team's imagination really run
> free.
>
>    Lots of teams like to get together during August or after they form in
> September to have a "build party".  Team members can get familiar with uses
> for different types of LEGO pieces and have the mission models ready to go.
>
>   For rookie coaches, and others who'd like to get more comfortable with
> FLL, keep an eye on the FLL Coach Calls that will be listed at
> http://www.firstlegoleague.org/challenge/teamresources  (plus, you can
> start by listening to some of the recordings from last year--the basics of
> mentoring a team apply every year--only the specifics of the robot game and
> the project challenge should change.)  There is a lot of good material
> linked from the Coach/Team Resources page, so try to check there multiple
> times during the season for help.
>
> From the FLL Challenge website, you'll be able to link to FAQs about this
> year's project:
> http://www.firstlegoleague.org/challenge/projectupdates
>
> to the Robot Game updates:
> http://www.firstlegoleague.org/challenge/robotgameupdates
>
> and to the official rules about tournament judging and awards, plus
> advancement:
> http://www.firstlegoleague.org/event/judging
> http://www.firstlegoleague.org/event/judgingfaq
>
> Just remember our FLL Core Values (
> http://www.firstlegoleague.org/mission/corevalues):
>
>   We have FUN!
>
>
> Steve Scherr
> Virginia-DC FLL Referee Advisor
>
>
> ------------------------------
> To UNSUBSCRIBE or CHANGE your settings, please visit
> https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-l.html and select "Join or
> leave the list".
> VADCFLL administrative announcements are sent via VADCFLL-ANNOUNCEMENTS-L.
> Visit https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-announcements-l.html to
> subscribe.
>
> ------------------------------
> To UNSUBSCRIBE or CHANGE your settings, please visit
> https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-l.html and select "Join or
> leave the list".
> VADCFLL administrative announcements are sent via VADCFLL-ANNOUNCEMENTS-L.
> Visit https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-announcements-l.html to
> subscribe.
>

-- To UNSUBSCRIBE or CHANGE your settings, please visit https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-l.html and select "Join or leave the list".

-- VADCFLL administrative announcements are sent via VADCFLL-ANNOUNCEMENTS-L. Visit https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-ANNOUNCEMENTS-l.html to subscribe.